Device for fibrin-biopolymer-forming substance application

Abstract

The two devices described allow for greater control over application of a fibrin biopolymer and yet remain simple enough to be used by both medical personnel and by non-medical workers. One of the devices includes chambers where components necessary for formation of a fibrin biopolymer are stored and are pushed by plungers connected to an actuator upon the actuator receiving pressure from the user, with the components mixing in a chamber within the device and flowing out of a tube connected to the mixing chamber before formation of the fibrin biopolymer is completed. The other device dispenses formulations that include components necessary for formations of a fibrin biopolymer onto a skin of a patient using one or more propellants, with the formation of the fibrin biopolymer being initiated after the formulations are dispensed on the patient's skin and are intentionally mixed together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for fibrin-biopolymer-forming substance application, comprising:
 a housing;   a plurality of compartments formed within the housing, contents of each of the compartments comprising one or more propellants, the plurality of the compartments comprising:
 a fibrinogen compartment whose contents further comprise a formulation more viscous than water and comprising fibrinogen; 
 a serinoprotease compartment whose contents further comprise a further formulation more viscous than water and comprising a serinoprotease, wherein the serinoprotease cleaves the fibrinogen into fibrin monomers when combined with the fibrinogen; and 
 a coagent compartment whose contents comprise an additional formulation more viscous than water and comprising a coagent, wherein the fibrin monomers polymerize into a fibrin biopolymer in the presence of the coagent; 
   a plurality of valves, each of the valves integrated into one of the compartments and adapted to take a closed position and an open position;   a plurality of at least partially hollow conduits, each of the conduits comprising a first end that is at least partially interfaced to one of the valves, the first end comprising a first opening, each of the conduits further comprising a second end comprising a second opening that is interfaced to one of a plurality of orifices within an actuator;   the actuator interfaced to all of the conduits and configured to apply pressure to all of the valves via the conduits upon being pressed by a user, wherein the pressure shifts the valves from the closed position into the open position and exposes the first opening of each of the conduits to the contents of the compartments, and wherein at least part of the contents of each of the compartments is propelled by the one or more propellants via the first openings of the conduits to flow via the conduits out of the second openings and out of the orifices of the actuator while the valves remain in the open position, and wherein the fibrinogen formulation, the serinoprotease formulation, and the coagent formulation form the fibrin polymer when mixed outside of the actuator.   
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of the compartments further comprises a coagent compartment whose contents further comprise a still further formulation comprising one or more coagents, wherein at least a portion of the one or more coagents is integrated within the fibrin biopolymer upon a completion of the polymerization of at least the portion of the fibrinogen into the fibrin biopolymer. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the one or more coagents comprise one or more of a drug, a protein, a stem cells, an antibacterial agent, and an antifungal agent. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 3 , wherein the protein comprises Alternagin-C protein and the drug comprises at least one of an antibiotic and an anti-cancer drug. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the more of the fibrinogen formulation, the serinoprotease formulation, and the cofactor formulation further comprise one or more coagents, and wherein at least a portion of the coagents is integrated into the biopolymer upon a completion of the polymerization of at least the portion of the fibrin monomers into the fibrin biopolymer. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein the one or more coagents comprises one or more of a drug, a protein, a stem cells, an antibacterial agent, and an antifungal agent. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 6 , wherein the protein comprises Alternagin-C protein and the drug comprises at least one of an antibiotic and an anti-cancer drug. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cofactor comprises calcium. 
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein the calcium is added to the cofactor formulation as one or more of calcium chloride, calcium carbonate, and calcium phosphate. 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the serinoprotease is derived from one of a snake and a fly. 
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein formulations do not come into contact with each other when flowing out of the orifices. 
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the formulations comprises one of an emulsion that forms a foam when propelled by the one or more propellants and a gel. 
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the foam comprises one or more of water, stearic acid, myristic acid, potassium hydroxide, coconut acid, glycerin, triethanolamine, and sodium hydroxide. 
     
     
         14 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the gel forms a further foam when rubbed against a skin of a patient. 
     
     
         15 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the viscosity of all of the formulations is substantially the same. 
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more propellants comprise one or more compressible gases and one or more liquifibiable gases. 
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 16 , wherein the one or more propellants further comprises one or more of nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, one or more hydrofluoroalkanes, one or more hydrofluoroolefins, and one or more hydrocarbons comprising one or more of propane, n-butane, and isobutane. 
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibrin biopolymer is heterologous to humans. 
     
     
         19 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibrinogen formulation comprises a cryoprecipitate extracted from a bovine animal, the cryoprecipitate comprising the fibrinogen. 
     
     
         20 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibrinogen and the serinoprotease are recombinantly produced.